Lathing.



No. 849,856. PATBNTBD APR. 9, 1907.

` T. E. RITGHIE.

LATHING.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5, 1906.

THOMAS E. RITCHIE, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

atented April 9, 1907.

Application filed July 5, 1906. Serial No. 324,876.

.To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. RITCHIE, of Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lathing, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in lathing, and more especially in that class of latliing in which a series of laths are connected or strung together in order to assist the workman in holding them in place while they are being attached to the studding or ceiling of a building.

The invention has for its object to improve the means employed in connecting the laths, so as to reduce the expense of connecting them to connect the laths by a connecting means whereby the string of laths may be severed at any desired place without interfering in any way with the connections between the other laths, and to otherwise improve the manufacture of connected laths of this class, as will be understood by a complete description of the device hereinafter contained.

The invention consists of the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, substantially as fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims annexed hereto, and it is carried out substantially as illustrated on the accompanying drawings, which form an essential part of this specification, and whereon like characters of reference refer to like parts wherever they occur in the different parts of the drawinos.

@On the drawings, Figure l represents a side elevation of a string of my improved connected laths connected in a manner and in the number preferred. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation ofla string of my improved connected laths, showing the same connected so that the end of one group of the laths extend or project beyond the ends of the next group of the laths in the string in order to break oints with the next string of laths on the wall or ceiling. Fig. 3 represents an enlarged cross-section ofa number of laths, showing my improved means of connecting them together into a string of connected laths. Fig. 4 represents a detail side elevation of one of the connections used between the several laths.

In carrying out my invention I. prefer to use a comparatively limited number of the laths l, so that the same when connected will not form a clumsy or awkward string of laths to qhandle and so that several strings of my connected laths may be easily and conveniently arranged upon a wall or ceiling relative to each other, so as to break the joints between the adjacent strings of laths and the best results be obtained thereby. For this reason l use a limited number of the laths l and connect them so that their ends are even or flush with each other, as shown in Fig. 1. The laths are connected by wire staples 2, driven through the laths through the adjacent edges of the laths connected thereby and turned over or clenched on the opposite faces of the laths. A plurality of staples 2 are used between each two connected laths, and these staples on the several laths are arranged in a plurality of lines or rows.

When the laths are to be used whole, two rows of staples may be sufficient to properly secure them together; but if the laths are to be cut up into sections several rows of staples will be necessary.

By the use of staples as a means for connecting the laths in strips I am able to disconnect the laths at any desired place without interfering with theirv connections at other places. The staples being sufficiently strong to resist any tendency to be upset tends to retain the laths with their edges separated the proper distance. The staples being small do not add materially to the bulk of a bundle of laths, and therefore are not clumsy. The staples are easily driven into the laths and clenched by a suitable machine. They are inexpensive in themselves, and consequently add but little to the cost of the laths, Although holding the edges of the laths properly separated, a string of laths connected by the staples is very iiexible and can be easily rolled into a bundle without becoming disconnected. The string of laths can be twisted or bent to conform to curves or slight irregularities in the surface of the wall without changing the proper Lspacing between the laths.

When the laths are connected in the relative positions, as shown in Fig. 2, and are rolled into bundles, strip after strip of the proper length may be nailed at their upper end to the studding at the top of a wall in such a manner that the projecting ends of the laths on the abutting strips will interlock with each other, so that a person need only IOO to continue the nailing of each individual lath without having to reach lfor the lath and then hold it in proper position.

Having thus fully described the nature, construction, and the operation of niy invention, I wish to secure by Letters Patent and to claiml. A series of laths, combined with series of staples arranged in a plurality of rows each staple driven through two abutting laths near the edges of the laths leaving interstioes between the latlis and forming a series of llexible connected laths.

2. A series of laths arranged in groups, each group of laths having its ends arranged so as to project longitudinally beyond the ends of the next group but alternately in opposite directions combined with series of staples arranged in a plurality of-rows each staple driven through two abutting laths near the edges of the laths leaving interstices between the laths and forming a series of leXible connected laths.

In testimony whereof l have affixed lny signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS E. RITCHIE.

Vitnesses:

HENRY CHADBOURN, CoRA J. CHADBOURN 

